PRUNING FLOWERING TREES 33 



sufficient. The remaining sections of Pyrus merely 

 require an occasional thinning. P. japonica should 

 be kept spurred in, whether growing on a wall or in 

 the open, and in the latter case should not be allowed 

 to become a mass of weakly shoots. 



RHAMNUS. These should be thinned out if be- 

 coming too thick, but, as a rule, they require very 

 little pruning. 



RHODODENDRON (including AZALEA). Remove all 

 seed-pods immediately the flowers are over, and any 

 plants that are in a sickly condition should be cut 

 down at the same time. By doing this a season or 

 two of flower is lost, but it is practically the only 

 means of bringing a weakly plant back to health 

 again. 



RHODOTYPUS. Cut away old wood, and encourage 

 the strongest of the young growths. 



RHUS. Keep these well thinned out, and destroy 

 all suckers that appear, unless wanted for stocks. 

 Gloves should always be worn when handling any 

 of the Rhus, as the sap of all is poisonous to a certain 

 extent. R. Toxicodendron is very poisonous. This should 

 never be forgotten. If used for subtropical gardens 

 cut down to within two eyes of the base. Select the 

 strongest eye and rub the other off. Always use 

 gloves in handling this shrub. It should never be 

 planted where children have access to it. 



RIBES. All the Ribes are improved by being cut 

 down annually while in a young state, but when 

 older, a yearly thinning out of the old wood is 

 sufficient. 



c 



